Mateus 4
Philoxenus of Mabbug
Mateus 4:4
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which goeth forth from the mouth of God." Now He said "shall live," and not, "shall be sound," nor, "shall be strong," nor, "shall be filled its lust's need;" and although this word is of little importance in its utterance, yet a great distinction is apparent therein. For He taught us clearly by that word that not by bread alone should man live, but that he should eat only to live, and not for the sake of lust, or strength, or healthy condition; for according to these things is life stablished also in sickness, and in weakness a man liveth unto them in the world. And as whosoever hath a severe disease in his body, that is to say, in those members which are the receptacles of meat, the food which he receiveth nourisheth his disease and not his strength, even so also whosoever feedeth the lust which is in him, his meat nourisheth his lust and not his human life; and it is manifest that whosoever nourisheth his lust giveth birth to other lusts, for as is the nature of the ground, so is also the taste of the fruit of trees which grow up therefrom. — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 11 -- On Abstinence
Mateus 4:17
Even as it is written concerning Him, "From the time of His baptism by John He began to work and to teach," even until that day in which He was taken up into heaven. These were the fair deeds and the excellent manner of life which He shewed forth in His own Person. And although the raising of the dead, and the cleansing of the lepers, and the opening of the eyes of the blind, and the making the lame to walk, and the straightening of the crooked limbed, and the making upright of those bent double, and the driving away of devils, and the walking upon the waves, and the stilling of the winds, were also works, because they were signs and wonders, yet the writer calleth the spiritual life and conduct which appeared in the Person of Christ, the work which was closely united to teaching. For if He came only for the sake of doing good deeds, and not to work wonders, His teaching also was for spiritual life and conduct, and to this He also united work, in order that He might show us in Himself the type of all perfection. And He forsook the world and all the conversation among the children of men immediately after the baptism of John, and went forth to the wilderness. — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 8 -- First Discourse on Poverty
Mateus 4:17
For our Lord proclaimed and revealed His kingdom to corporeal beings, and said, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven hath drawn nigh." Thou hast heard the voice of him that proclaimed concerning His kingdom, believe it then undoubtingly, especially since thou hast learned that it is the voice of God. Meditate not in thy soul how this kingdom can be, and try not to search out these spiritual countries in thy imagination; take not upon thyself the customary habit of the thoughts of the body when thou hearest of incorporeal countries, and fashion not imaginary forms out of thy heart concerning these glorious mansions which the Ascension of the Son hath prepared [for thee]; and think not to order in thy knowledge that which the knowledge of God hath fashioned aforetime. Thou wast not called to search out the kingdom, neither its preparation nor construction, but only to be an heir and a guest, that thou mightest enjoy thyself out of the overflowing abundance of its spiritual delights. Thou hast heard the word concerning the kingdom which Jesus speaketh to thee, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven hath drawn nigh;" to thee He hath said, "Repent," and not that thou shouldst be one who should try to examine into the kingdom, for that is near unto thee if thou wilt draw nigh unto it. Now the drawing nigh unto the kingdom cannot be arrived at by the questionings of these words which enquire, "How, and in what manner, and what the kingdom is like;" but let each of us keep the laws of the kingdom, and perform the commandments which have been committed unto us by the Ruler of the kingdom. — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 2 -- On Faith
Mateus 4:18
And again in the case of the holy Apostles, He renewed that call of Abraham; and observe their faith also, that it was like unto the faith of Abraham; for as Abraham heard immediately he was called, so also immediately He called the Apostles, they heard and went forth after Him. "He saw them casting nets into the sea, and He called them, and straightway they forsook their nets and their father, and went after Him;" and before they had heard from Him the words, "If a man forsake not his father and mother, and everything that he hath, and cometh after me, he cannot be My disciple," they forsook everything and went after Jesus. For He did not propound for the disciples lengthy doctrine, but only the hearing of the word of faith; and because the faith which was in them was living, immediately it received the living word it became obedient unto life, and they ran thereafter straightway, and delayed not. Now in this they show themselves to have been disciples before they were called. For the custom of faith which is mingled with simplicity is that it receiveth not doctrine by much persuasion, but as the sound and healthy eye receiveth not the ray which is sent therein by contrivances and cunning inventions—but immediately that it is opened it looketh with strength upon the light, because its natural sight is sound—so also the eye of faith, which is set in the pupil of simplicity, immediately it heareth the voice of God recogniseth it, and there riseth in it the light of His Word. — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity
Mateus 4:20
At the beginning of their election when He called them to go after Him, it is written of them that, "Immediately He called them they forsook everything and went after Him." They were casting nets into the sea and He saw and called them, "and they left their nets and their ship, and went after Him." And He saw also James and John in a ship with Zebedee their father, and He called them also, and straightway they left the net with Zebedee their father, and went after Him. Behold the law of the going forth after God! And behold the straight rule which hath been marked for us in the Holy Books! Therefore it is right that every man who desireth to go forth after God should emulate the going forth of the Apostles, and that he should despise and reject everything which is visible, and deny the whole world. The disciples are the beginning of the discipleship of Christians, and their calling was such----as it is written concerning them----that immediately they were called they forsook everything, and went forth after Him. And whosoever wisheth to become a disciple let him consider this example, and let him look at this mark with all his mind and understanding, in order that inwardly and outwardly he may make himself destitute of everything, and then let him begin to journey along this heavenly path; for he will never be filled unless he first of all empty himself, and he will never lay his hand upon the riches of heaven unless he first let go the poverty which he holdeth. It is impossible for him to lay hold upon the one, unless he let go the other, especially as they are opposed to each other, and each of them when it draweth nigh destroyeth the other. — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 8 -- First Discourse on Poverty
Mateus 4:22
At the beginning of their election when He called them to go after Him, it is written of them that, "Immediately He called them they forsook everything and went after Him." They were casting nets into the sea and He saw and called them, "and they left their nets and their ship, and went after Him." And He saw also James and John in a ship with Zebedee their father, and He called them also, and straightway they left the net with Zebedee their father, and went after Him. Behold the law of the going forth after God! And behold the straight rule which hath been marked for us in the Holy Books! Therefore it is right that every man who desireth to go forth after God should emulate the going forth of the Apostles, and that he should despise and reject everything which is visible, and deny the whole world. The disciples are the beginning of the discipleship of Christians, and their calling was such----as it is written concerning them----that immediately they were called they forsook everything, and went forth after Him. And whosoever wisheth to become a disciple let him consider this example, and let him look at this mark with all his mind and understanding, in order that inwardly and outwardly he may make himself destitute of everything, and then let him begin to journey along this heavenly path; for he will never be filled unless he first of all empty himself, and he will never lay his hand upon the riches of heaven unless he first let go the poverty which he holdeth. It is impossible for him to lay hold upon the one, unless he let go the other, especially as they are opposed to each other, and each of them when it draweth nigh destroyeth the other. — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 8 -- First Discourse on Poverty